Portrait Using Mr. Pickles Lucis Art Technique

[DeadSmiley]

After seeing the results Mr. Pickles was getting using this technique... Lucis Like in Lightroom?
I had to try it for myself.



I have to say that I really like the results. This was from the RAW file straight from the camera. All the PP was done in ACR. I did nothing to it after that other than save it as a JPG. I tried not to go too extreme with it.

I toyed with it on a few other shots and found that you need to use this technique on the right image otherwise it looks REALLY strange.

C&C Welcome as always.

[jfrancho]

As I said in my email, I think what makes some of these drastic edits work, is starting with a really well exposed base image. The cheeks nose and chin may be a little hot, but I think that may be part of the look. Its an appealing process to me. I assume you did this in ACR 4, since many of the controls are similar to LR?

[DeadSmiley]

Originally Posted by jfrancho

As I said in my email, I think what makes some of these drastic edits work, is starting with a really well exposed base image. The cheeks nose and chin may be a little hot, but I think that may be part of the look. Its an appealing process to me. I assume you did this in ACR 4, since many of the controls are similar to LR?

Yep...ACR 4 in CS3. I probably would have taken the nose and cheeks down a touch if I had continued to edit it in CS3 but you are right it does seem to be a part of the look.

Honestly, my favorite part of the image is what happened to his hair. It just pops. I'll post the original image tonight so you can see the difference.

[Worm324]

It looks like an HDR image with very little light smoothing, especially on the hair I really like it and I'm going to give it a try when I get home!!

Best,
Jay

[jfrancho]

It looks like an HDR image

That's all that shadow recovery - very similar effect.

[Worm324]

It sure is I've noticed the Shadow/ Highlight adjustment in PS has the same effect, but the Halos it creates are ridiculous so I rarely use it.

Jay

[jfrancho]

The problem is you're using it as a global adjustment. Start using masks, and halos aren't an issue. many of the filters and adjustments in Photoshop don't really become anything beyond novelty, until you use them with a mask.

[Worm324]

Very true Masks take so much time though Good ones anyways!

Best,
Jay

[jfrancho]

Use "Find Edges" and color between the lines That's my quickie method. Then apply the mask, and fill a new mask in with black, and quickly paint the effect in. Five minute job.

[Worm324]

Nice trick you got there!! Thanks for the tip! I'll try that tonight as well!

Best,
Jay

[heartseye]

That's a lot of techie chat about how to make a portrait look ugly! Now, If he is a politcion....well.......

[jfrancho]

I guess ugly is in the eye of the beholder

[DeadSmiley]

Here's the original pic...

[aam1234]

Honestly, I prefer the original. However, I'm sure that technique will give good results in a different application, say street photography or some other uses.

[aam1234]

This lady is a member of the photo contest I participated in and she has, what appears to me, a technique similar to yours. I think her application and setting is better, imo, because they are outdoors as apposed to a studio.

Have a look:
- Example 1.
- Example 2.

Let me know what you think.

Edit: removed example 3 because the technique wasn't used there. Thanks Lonnit for the correction.